Wednesday, March 28, 2012

A New Beginning and a New Name

Much of this post is being re-posted from an article I wrote for my own site a few weeks ago. It's big news, though, and I want to get it in front of as many people as I can.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when you have to try something new. I’m not afraid of trying, not afraid of failing. I am afraid of regrets.

Go back with me to 2009, I’ve just finished a year-long battle with colon cancer and am having a horrible time getting back into writing. I’ve lost my inspiration, my will, my drive. Cancer has sucked every ounce of fight out of me and has drained me emotionally.

Over the next few months things begin to normalize, I start writing again, begin to feel like I’m regaining my creative momentum. Only something is different. I see life in a new light now, view things differently. I still love writing suspense but seem to want more. I want to touch readers on a different level, more personal, more where they are as they live life and struggle through it as I have.

It took me awhile to figure out exactly what was going on inside me but when I did I ran it past my agent and publisher and they both agreed. I needed to branch out and write something that wasn’t suspense, something that was more aimed at the heart, something that dealt with life and love, heartache and triumph. Something that could and would reach a wider audience.

So . . . I began work on my first contemporary drama, A Thousand Sleepless Nights. But there was a problem. Mike Dellosso writes suspense. Readers know that and expect that. And we didn’t want to confuse the market by throwing something totally different at them. So I assumed a pen name–Michael King.

From this point forward I will be two writers: Mike Dellosso who writes suspense, and Michael King who writes contemporary drama.

For Michael King I've created a Facebook author page and a blog where I'll discuss things of faith and family, love and heartache, trials and triumphs.

A Thousand Sleepless Nights releases in October. It's a book for everyone, especially those touched by cancer, either personally or through the life of a family member, friend, relative, neighbor. Watch for it.
How have you been touched by cancer? How many people can you name off the top of your head who you know have had or has cancer?

4 comments:

Ruth Douthitt said...

Wow, I admire you. Thank you for being transparent.

Yes, unfortunately, I have known many people taken from us by cancer.

I know they are in heaven with the Lord, but it's the ones left behind that I ache for. Seeing their pain and grief hurts my heart.

Yet I glorify in that they will be reunited with their loved ones with Christ one day. Amen!!

Good luck with your writing under your pen name. I can't wait to read your books!

Blessings,
Ruth

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Mike, I want to feature your other author persona, along with the book, on my blog when it releases. Please email me.

Jillian Kent said...

Hey Mike,
I'm really looking forward to, A Thousand Sleepless Nights. Uh-oh, I mean I'm looking forward to reading, A Thousand Sleepless Nights. I've already had more than my share of sleepless nights. Lost my father, brother and a couple of aunts and uncles to cancer, my mom's a breast cancer survivor, lost too many friends to the disease. Oh, and welcome to alternate personality land with the pen name. It's a trip. :)

Mike Dellosso said...

Ruth and Jillian, I, too, have known too many people taken by cancer. It's an awful, brutal disease, a monster. Thank God no matter how dark things get or how fearful we may become . . . there is always hope.